Vehicle wheel



F. H. WILBUR.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPucATloN FILED MAR. 24.1920.

1,415,751. y Patented Maysa,1922.

Uurrso.N STATES FREDERICK 1I. WILBUR, or BINGHAMTON, new Yon-K,.Assrenon or PATENT orrics.

TO GEORGE A. REYNOLDS AND ONE-FOURTH TO SAMUEL VJ. RRYNOLIJIS, BTH` 0FBINGHAMTON, `NEW' YORK.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

-l."atented May 9, 1922.

Application filed March 24, 1920. Serial No. 368,212.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnunicii H. i7VrnnU1:,of Binghamton, Ein the county of Broome, in the State of New Yorkyhave`invented `new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Wheels, of which `the`ii'ollowing, take-n in connection `with the accompanying drawings, isa` full, clear, `and enact description.

This `invention relates `to certain improvements in vehicle Wheelsinvolving the use ot' an .inflatable pneumatic ztube and opposing casing`sections :interposed between an inner rim and an outer rim, and refersmore parn tieularly to the means `lfor elainjifiing and releasing theouter `portions of' the casing sections in and from the outer` rim.

Thexmain object is to provide simple and efficient .means -tor lockingthe casing sections `to the` outer rilnfroni `the inside in such manneras to lirnilyhold the outer rim in place `even though the tire `may bede# Hated While the `Wheel `is in motion, and, at the same time, toprotect the locking means from the elements and Contact with externalobjects. f

Another object is to project the `edges oit the outer rim laterally asu'iiicient distance to `protect `the outer sides of the casing sectionsagainst contact Withcurbs, the sides oi ruts and other objects, Whichotherwise would cause excessivewearior injury to said sections.

` Other objects and `uses `relating,"to specific partsio'f theWheelWillfbethrought out in the following description: i

In the drawings:

"Figure .-`1.A-- side elevation ol a vollicle Wheel embodyingthefeatures oi my iuvention Figure -I-Q- `is an enlarged longitudinalsectional View, partly inelevatioimot a pow tion of the tire includingthe inner and outer rims. f

Figure -3- is a transverse sectional View taken in the `plane oitlinc@-3, ure 2.` i

As illustrated, this Wheel comprises .a hub -11-` and iel1y.Q-.connectedby spokes -3, and a tire consisting ot an` `inner `rim sections --6-connecting the inner and rims,` together with suitable means, as splitolanniiing rings -8, i'or locking and releasing the outer portions ofthe case sections in and. from the outer rini 5-, which latter may besurrounded by a solid rubber tread -9-. G0 The inner rim. l;- as shouui,is oli the chnclier type having; the usual overturned marginal flanges-l0- andv annular grooves torreceivlng and retaining` the innerpertionsof the case sections -6--.

Thesecase sections are similar and inter changeable, and are preferablvmade ot flexibleelastic matins-iata such as rubber, felt., or rubbercovered fabric.. and are continu ous circunoiiierentiall)7 andconcettoconvert in `cross section, so that when as enibled in reverserelation upon the. inner rim., their inner concave iaces will contortoeloselv to the transversel;T circiilar 'Form ot the inner tube --7-`.

In other words, the ci eine' sections -Gm constitute what may `be termedflexible protectire shields 'for protecting; the inner tube -7- andclamping members 5S-- against exposure to the elements and contactmwithenter-nal objectaand also serre as tie pieces between the inner andouter rims -land -5 The inner edges ot the casing sections -\(3- restdirectly upon the periphery olf the inner rim *il* with their `meetinglaces spaced apart 'from each other., and their side edges provided.with annular ribs -lQl which interlock with the overturned llangres`i0-- to hold the casing sections agains'it lateral und outward radialdispl:icemeut when. adjusted 'lol use.

The outer c 's o' the (31u-fling; sentirme lare oi' le,l tranen/creeWidth than their inner edges, so that 'when the parts oi? the e5 tiroare assembled, said outer edges will be in spacedrelation transversely,or at equal distances at opposite sides ot the longitudinal center otthe tireto receive between them theclampingl members or rines M8, andare 10e provided along); their opposite sides with annular ribs --12-for interlocking` engagement 'with inturned groei/ed tlanges 11%-i'inthe outer rire -5-, therebjt7 holding said outer rini and easing1sections against relative lateral and radial displacement, particularly, when the inner tube is intlated or dellated.

"'llie outer riin -5-- is provided. with an inner annular' rib lil-mmidwayY between,

and preferably of less radial depth than the outer flanges El, therebyforming two annular grooves l5- in the inner face of the outer rimbetween the annular ribs or flanges ].3- and ld-e for receiving theadjacent edges of the casing sections 6- and clamping rings -S.

The periphery of the outer rim -5- .is corrugated or ribbed transverselyto form alternate annular grooves and ribs, against which the inner faceof the thread -9- is secured by vulcanizing or cementing, or in anyother well known manner not necessary to herein illustrate or describe.

The rings M8- are identical and interchangeable, and are preferably madeof spring steel divided transversely 'through one side, as at M16-, andtensioned to eX- pand against the inner face of the outer rim within thegrooves -15 so as to fill the space between the opposite faces of theannular rib la-- and adjacent faces of the casing sections -6- to holdthe latter in interlocking engagement with the flanges -13- when theparts are adjusted for use, the radial thickness of said rings beingsubstantially equal to the radial depth of the rib F14- so that theirinner faces may coincide transversely to form a bearing for the innertube,iwhich latter is, in this instance, reenforced by a protectivelining 17w of heavy ducking or canvas to avoid excessive wear of theadjacent portion of the inner tube by friction with the inner faces ofthe rings -S- and rib -ll-.

The inner and outer rims v4 and 5, and particularly the outer rim, aremade of sufficient width to project laterally to or slightly beyond thecorresponding outer faces of the casing sections -6- to protect saidcasing sections against contact with curbs and other external objectswhich might otherwise cause excessive wear or injury to those parts.

By constructing and assembling the parts in the manner described, theopposite edges of the outer rim -5- and outer faces of the casingsections -6- are practically smooth and unbroken throughout their cir*cumferences, the casing sections 6- also serving to protect the clampingmembers -8- from the elements including snow, ice, dust and otherforeign matter, which enables them to be easily and quickly removed incase the inner tube should become impaired to such an extent as torequire its replacement by a new one.

ln case it should become necessary to remove the inner tube either fromimpairment or other cause, the inner tube is first deflated, therebyreleasing the outward pressure upon the casing sections -6-, under whichconditions, one or both of the casing sections may be removed byspringing its inner edge inwardly sufficiently to disengage it from thecorresponding flange i0-, thereby allowing the freed edge to be drawnoutwardly a sufficient distance to permit the withdrawal of the innertube, which, in turn, would afford access to the rings -S-.

The end of the adjacent ring may then be pried inwardly by a suitabletool, such as a screw driver, and gradually unseated from thecorresponding groove -l5-- until brought within the annular flange -ll-,thereby freeing the adjacent edge of the corresponding tire section -6-and allowing the latter to be withdrawn.

In like manner, the other casing section may also be withdrawn ifdesired, it being understood that by reversing the above opl erationsthe casing sections and other parts may be restored or readjusted foruse without the use of any external fastening means, all of whichcontributes materially to the strength, durability and commercialelliciency of wheels of this character.

What I claim is:

l. ln a vehicle wheel, the combination of inner and outer circular rimsin radially spaced relation, the outer rim having inturned marginalflanges along its opposite edges, and also provided with an intermediateinwardly projecting rib midway between the flanges for forming annularchannels between said rib and flanges, separate Hexible casing sectionshaving their inner edges seated on the inner rim and their outer edgesseated in said channels against the inner faces of the flanges, aninflatable tube between the casing sections, and separate split clampingrings seated in the channels between the rib and adjacent portions ofthe casing sections to hold the outer edges `of said casing sections inengagement with the flanges.

2. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of inner and outer rim sectionsin radially spaced relation, and provided with marginal flanges alongtheir opposite longitudi-` nal edges projecting radially toward eachother, the outer rim having an intermediate circumferential extendingrib projecting inwardly substantially midway between its flanges,separate flexible casing sections of concavoeconvex cross sectionarranged with their concave sides facing each other and having theirinner edges engaged with the inner faces of the flanges of the innerrim, and their outer edges engaged with the inner faces of the flangesof the outer rim in transversely spaced relation to said rib to formannular spaces between said rib and adjacent edges of the casing, aninflatable tube between the casing sections, and separate split clampingrings in said spaces between said rib and adjacent portions of the outeredges of the casing sections for holding the latter in engagement. withthe flanges of the outer rim and spring-tensioned against the inner faceof the outer rim. i

3. In a Vehicle Wheel, the combination oi' inner and outer circular rimsin radially spaced relation, the outer rim being provid ed with inturnedannular flanges along its marginal edges, separate flexible casingsections seated on the inner rim and engaged with the inner faces ofsaid flanges, an nflatable tube between said casing sections, separatesplit rings seated against the inner face of the outer rim at oppositesides of the longitudinal center oif said outer riln .and engaging theinner faces of the outer In Witness whereof I have hereunto set 20 myhand this 19th day of March, 1920.

FREDERICK H. WILBUR.

Witnesses:

T. W. WHIPPLE, R. W. WHIPPLE.

